Gas Valve Assemblies

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides gas valve assemblies that include a replaceable excess flow valve within a movable flow control body that is removably secured within a valve seat housing. The gas valve assemblies permit the replacement of an excess flow valve without interrupting the supply of gas to a structure and without replacing gas piping.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/889,484filed Jun. 1, 2020, and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 62/858,512 filed on Jun. 7, 2019 the contents of both areherein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to gas valve assemblies and, moreparticularly, to gas valve assemblies with an integrated excess flowvalve.

Description of the Related Art

For convenience and safety, a main gas pipe supplying natural gas tostructures, e.g. commercial buildings or residences, is typicallyinstalled underground, including under paved roadways and sidewalks,where it can be tapped to provide natural gas to one or more structures.The main gas pipe may also be referred to herein as the gas main, andthe gas pipe tapped off the gas main may also be referred to herein asthe service line or the service line gas pipe. A service line typicallyextends from the gas main and terminates at a gas meter/regulatormounted to or near the structure. For cost and convenience purposes,plastic, e.g., polyethylene, pipe may be used for the service line gaspipe. Although plastic piping is rather durable, there may be instanceswhere the integrity of the plastic gas pipe may be compromised, such asnatural disasters and human error or accident when digging in an areawhere gas pipes are buried. To avoid human accidents, procedures aregenerally required to be followed when digging in areas where the gaspipe may be buried. For example, in areas with buried gas pipes, utilityservice personnel, construction workers and homeowners digging theground are urged to obtain information from the gas utility indicatingexactly where gas pipes are located in order to avoid damaging the gaspipe. Unfortunately, accidents and/or natural events may still occurthat can compromise the integrity of the gas pipe. For example, if forsome reason the gas utility is not contacted to obtain the location of agas pipe prior to excavation, directional drilling and/or post holedigging such excavation, drilling and/or digging may cause damage to thegas pipe. In addition, earthquakes and/or settling of the ground candamage the gas pipe. The integrity of the gas pipe and/or gasmeter/regulator may also be compromised above ground by accidentalregulator and/or service line failure or damage caused by an impact froma vehicle.

An excess flow valve (EFV) is a safety device generally installed withinthe service line gas pipe to limit the volume of natural gas that canleak into the atmosphere if the integrity of the service line gas pipeis compromised downstream of the excess flow valve. An excess flow valveis a self-actuating valve that automatically closes when the gas flowthrough the service line gas pipe exceeds a predetermined flow rate.Depending on its configuration, the excess flow valve may automaticallyreset or may require manual reset once the source of the gas leak isrepaired. Generally, the excess flow valve is positioned in the serviceline gas pipe in close proximity to the gas main so that substantiallythe entire length of the service line gas pipe is protected by theexcess flow valve.

Current federal code requires the use of an excess flow valve in theservice line gas pipe rated for single family residence structuresoperating at pressures greater than or equal to 10 pounds per squareinch gauge or 10 psig and in multi-family residences or single smallcommercial customers operating at pressures greater than or equal to 10psig and with a demand flow less than or equal to 1000 standard cubicfeet per hour or 1000 SCFH installed meter capacity. As noted above,conventional excess flow valves are installed within the service linegas pipe. All other services require a manual shut off valve which doesnot provide automatic actuation. To remove or change an excess flowvalve installed within the service line gas pipe, the ground has to beexcavated and the excess flow valve cut-out of the service line gas pipeand a new service line gas pipe with a new excess flow valve has to beinstalled. The cost to replace an excess flow valve may be high and thetraffic disruption associated with the replacing the excess flow valvemay be significant. As a result, the flow rate of excess flow valves istypically rated for the maximum potential demand flow associated withthe potential uses of the structure when the excess flow valve isoriginally installed. This predetermined rating of the excess flow valveis sized for a particular set of conditions, such as the inlet pressure,the maximum possible demand flow and the size of the service line gaspipe. The problem is that for utilities that supply natural gas tocommercial and residential structures, the expected demand flow canchange appreciably over time. For example, at one point in time thestructure may be a pizza restaurant with a high demand flow, and atlater point in time the structure may be a florist with a different andlower demand flow. Thus, in the example described above, the excess flowvalve would have a predetermined flow rate suitable for a pizzarestaurant. When the structure is transformed into a florist, the demandflow will drop appreciably. As a result, the excess flow valve may notprovide the intended flow protection for a florist. More specifically,the service line gas pipe has an excess flow valve rated for a high flowrate to meet the demand of the pizza restaurant flow. However, the flowrate of a florist is appreciably lower. As a result, small leaks in theservice line gas pipe may not trigger the excess flow valve toautomatically shut off the gas flow in the service line as that leak maynot exceed the flow rate of the excess flow valve.

The gas valve assemblies according to the present disclosure include areplaceable excess flow valve within a movable flow control bodyremovably secured to a valve seat housing that permits the replacementof the excess flow valve without interrupting the supply of gas to thestructure and without replacing gas pipe. For example, the gas valveassembly according to the present disclosure would permit thereplacement of an excess flow valve of one demand flow rating with anexcess flow valve of another demand flow rating without interrupting thesupply of gas to the structure and without replacing gas pipe andwithout need for excavation with the proper application of valve boxinstallation. As another example, the gas valve assembly according tothe present disclosure would permit the replacement of an old ornon-operational excess flow valve with a fully operational excess flowvalve without interrupting the supply of gas to the structure andwithout replacing gas pipe and without need for excavation with theproper application of valve box installation.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of gas valveassemblies that include a replaceable excess flow valve within a movableflow control body that is removably secured within a valve seat housing.The gas valve assemblies according to the present disclosure permit thereplacement of an excess flow valve without interrupting the supply ofgas to a structure and without the need to replace gas piping andwithout need for excavation with the proper application of valve boxinstallation.

In one exemplary embodiment, a gas valve assembly includes a valve seathousing, a flow valve body and a valve holding assembly. The valve seathousing has a wall and a central opening. The valve seat housing alsoincludes a first hub, a first gas port, a second hub, a second gas port.The first hub extends from the wall of the valve seat housing and has anopening extending therethrough. The first gas port extends through thewall of the valve seat housing and is aligned with the first hub openingso that the central opening is in communication with the first hubopening. The second hub extends from the wall of the valve seat housingand has an opening extending therethrough. The second gas port extendsthrough the wall of the valve seat housing and is aligned with thesecond hub opening so that the central opening is in communication withthe second hub opening. The flow valve body is positioned within thecentral opening of the valve seat housing. The flow valve body has amain flow bore extending therethrough and a bypass bore extendingtherethrough. The main flow bore is angularly displaced from the bypassflow bore. The valve holding assembly has a lid releasably secured tothe flow valve body and a valve holding body extending from the lid intoa valve receptacle within the flow valve body. The valve holding bodyhas an excess flow valve removably positioned within an EFV bore withinthe valve holding body. The gas valve assembly may also include a coverring releasably securing the flow valve body within the central openingof the valve seat housing.

In another exemplary embodiment, a gas valve assembly includes a valveseat housing and a flow valve body. The valve seat housing has a walland a central opening. The valve seat housing includes a first hub, afirst gas port, a second hub and a second gas port. The first hub isintegrally or monolithically formed into the wall of the valve seathousing and has an opening extending therethrough. The first gas portextends through the wall of the valve seat housing and is aligned withthe first hub opening so that the central opening is in communicationwith the first hub opening. The second hub is integrally ormonolithically formed into the wall of the valve seat housing and has anopening extending therethrough. The second gas port extends through thewall of the valve seat housing and is aligned with the second hubopening so that the central opening is in communication with the secondhub opening. The flow valve body is positioned within the centralopening of the valve seat housing. The flow valve body has a main flowbore extending therethrough and a bypass bore extending therethrough.The main flow bore is angularly displaced from the bypass flow bore. Theflow valve body has a removable excess flow valve positioned within mainflow bore. The gas valve assembly may also include a cover ringreleasably securing the flow valve body within the central opening ofthe valve seat housing.

In another exemplary embodiment, a gas valve assembly includes a valveseat housing and a flow valve body. The valve seat housing has a walland a central opening and includes a first gas port and a second gasport. The first gas port and the second gas port extend through the wallof the valve seat housing. The flow valve body is positioned within thecentral opening of the valve seat housing. The flow valve body has amain flow bore extending therethrough and a bypass bore extendingtherethrough, where the main flow bore is angularly displaced from thebypass flow bore. The flow valve body also includes a removable excessflow valve positioned within the main flow bore. The gas valve assemblymay also include a valve holding assembly having a lid releasablysecured to the flow valve body. The valve holding body extends from thelid into a valve receptacle within the flow valve body. In thisexemplary embodiment, the excess flow valve is removably positionedwithin an EFV bore within the valve holding body. The gas valve assemblymay also include a cover ring releasably securing the flow valve bodywithin the central opening of the valve seat housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary gas supply environment wherethe gas valve assemblies according to the present disclosure may beutilized;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gas valveassembly according to the present disclosure installed within the gassupply environment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gas valveassembly according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the gas valve assembly of FIG.3, illustrating a valve seat housing and a flow control body that can beremovably secured to the valve seat housing;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the gas valve assembly of FIG.4, illustrating the valve seat housing, the flow control body, and avalve holding assembly that can be removably secured to the flow controlbody and that can hold an excess flow valve so that the excess flowvalve is aligned with a main bore within the flow control body;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the gas valve assembly of FIG. 3 inpartial cut away revealing the excess flow valve within the valveholding assembly and within the main bore of the flow control bodyaligned for operation in a flow control mode;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the gas valve assembly of FIG. 3taken from line 7-7, illustrating the excess flow valve within the valveholding assembly and within the main bore of the flow control bodyaligned for operation in a flow control mode;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the gas valve assembly ofFIG. 7 taken from detail 8 and illustrating a sealed junction betweenthe main bore within the flow control body and a gas port of the valveseat housing;

FIG. 9 is cross-sectional view of the gas valve assembly of FIG. 4 takenfrom line 9-9, illustrating an angular displacement between the mainflow bore within the flow control body and a bypass flow bore within theflow control body;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the gas valve assembly of FIG. 3 inpartial cut away revealing the bypass flow bore within the flow controlbody and the flow control body rotated and aligned for operation in abypass mode;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the gas valve assembly of FIG. 10with a partial cut away taken from line 11-11, illustrating the bypassflow bore within the flow control body and the flow control body rotatedand aligned for operation in the bypass mode;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion of the gas valve assembly ofFIG. 11 taken from detail 12 and illustrating a sealed junction betweenthe bypass flow bore within the flow control body and a gas port of thevalve seat housing;

FIG. 13 is cross-sectional view of the gas valve assembly of FIG. 10taken from line 13-13, illustrating the bypass flow bore within the flowcontrol body and the flow control body aligned for operation in thebypass mode;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the gas valve assembly of FIG. 3 inpartial cut away revealing the main flow bore and the bypass flow borewithin the flow control body and the flow control body rotated andaligned for operation in an off mode;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the gas valve assembly of FIG. 14taken from line 15-15, illustrating the main flow bore and the bypassflow bore within the flow control body and the flow control body rotatedand aligned for operation in the off mode;

FIG. 16 is cross-sectional view of the gas valve assembly of FIG. 14taken from line 16-16, illustrating the main flow bore and the bypassflow bore within the flow control body and the flow control body alignedfor operation in the off mode;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of another exemplary embodimentof the gas valve assembly according to the present disclosure,illustrating the valve seat housing, the flow control body, and anotherexemplary embodiment of the valve holding assembly that can be removablysecured to the flow control body and that can hold an excess flow valveso that the excess flow valve is aligned with a main bore within theflow control body; and

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of another exemplary embodimentof the gas valve assembly according to the present disclosure,illustrating the valve seat housing, the flow control body, and anotherexemplary embodiment of the valve holding assembly that can be removablysecured to the flow control body and that can hold an excess flow valveso that the excess flow valve is aligned with a main bore within theflow control body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of gas valveassemblies that include a replaceable excess flow valve within a movableflow control body that is removably secured within a valve seat housing.The gas valve assemblies according to the present disclosure permit thereplacement of an excess flow valve without interrupting the supply ofgas to a structure and without the need to replace gas piping andwithout need for excavation with the proper application of valve boxinstallation. For example, the gas valve assemblies permit thereplacement of an excess flow valve designed for one demand flow ratingtrip flow, e.g., 3900 Standard Cubic Feet Per Hour (SCFH), with anexcess flow valve designed for another demand flow rating trip flow,e.g., 1100 SCFH, without interrupting the supply of gas and withoutreplacing gas pipe. As another example, the gas valve assemblies permitthe replacement of an inoperable excess flow valve without interruptingthe supply of gas to the structure and without replacing gas piping andwithout need for excavation with the proper application of valve boxinstallation.

The gas valve assemblies according to the present disclosure includemultiple gas flow bores that are isolated from each other by internalseals and by having longitudinal axes that are orientated with anangular displacement so that only one gas flow bore is operativelyaligned with first and second gas flow ports of the valve seat housing.The operative alignment allows the gas valve assemblies to be orientedto operate in multiple modes, such as a flow control mode, a bypass modeand an off mode. The flow control mode is a mode of operation of the gasvalve assembly where a flow bore with the excess flow valve is alignedwith the first and second gas flow ports of the valve seat housing. Thebypass mode is a mode of operation of the gas valve assembly where aflow bore without the excess flow valve is aligned with the first andsecond gas flow ports of the valve seat housing. The off mode is a modeof operation of the gas valve assembly where no flow bore is alignedwith the first and second gas flow ports of the valve seat housing sothat gas does not flow from the first gas flow port to the second gasflow port.

For ease of description, the gas valve assemblies may also be referredto herein as the “valve assemblies” in the plural and the “valveassembly” in the singular. The excess flow valves that are included inthe valve assemblies may also be referred to herein as the “EFV's” inthe plural and the “EFV” in the singular.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the valve assemblies 100 of the presentdisclosure are connected to a tee connection 12 extending from a gasmain 10 supplying natural gas to a structure 14 via service line gaspiping 16 extending between the tee connection 12 and a gasmeter/regulator 18 mounted to or near the structure 14. The service linegas piping 16 described herein is preferably made of a plastic material,such as polyethylene. However, it will be appreciated that the serviceline gas piping may be made of any suitable material or materialscapable of transporting gas from the gas main 10 to the gasmeter/regulator 18 mounted to or near the structure 14.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, an exemplary embodiment of a valve assembly 100according to the present disclosure is shown. The valve assembly 100includes a valve seat housing 110, a flow valve body 150 and a valveholding assembly 180. In this exemplary embodiment, the valve seathousing 110 is a generally cylindrical member or structure that ispreferably made of a plastic material, such as polyethylene. The valveseat housing 110 includes a wall 112 with a central opening 114, seen inFIG. 4, that is configured to receive the flow valve body 150. In thisexemplary embodiment, the wall 112 of the valve seat housing 110 is acylindrical wall. A first gas port 116 extends through the wall 112 anda second gas port 118 extends through the wall 112. The gas ports 116and 118 can be used as inlet and outlet ports for the flow of gas. Forexample, the gas port 116 can be an inlet port connected to the gas main10 and the gas port 118 can be an outlet port connected to the serviceline gas piping 16. However, the present disclosure also contemplatesthat the first gas port 116 can be an outlet port connected to theservice line gas piping 16 and the second gas port 118 can be an inletport connected to the gas main 10. In this exemplary embodiment, thefirst and second gas ports 116 and 118 are elongated openings in thewall 112 of the valve seat housing 110, as shown FIGS. 4 and 7.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 3-5, extending from the valve seat housing110 is a first hub 120 that is aligned with the first gas port 116, anda second hub 122 that is aligned with the second gas port 118. The firsthub 120 is a hollow member that includes an elongated portion 122 havinga hollow center and a nipple portion 124 having a hollow center. Theelongated portion 122 has a first end 122 a that may be integrally ormonolithically formed into the wall 112 of the valve seat housing 110 sothat a sealed connection joint exists between the first hub 120 and thevalve seat housing 110 preventing gas from exiting the valve seathousing via the sealed connection joint. In another embodiment, thefirst end 122 a of the elongated portion 122 may be secured to the wall112 of the valve seat housing 110 using adhesives, welds or otherfasteners, so that a sealed connection joint exists between the firsthub 120 and the valve seat housing 110 preventing gas from exiting thevalve seat housing via the sealed connection joint. The first end 122 aof the elongated portion 122 is preferably shaped so that the hollowcenter portion of the elongated portion 122 is substantially the sameshape and size as the first gas port 116. A second end 122 b of theelongated portion 122 is narrower than the first end 122 a and is shapedso that the second end 122 b can be coupled to the nipple portion 124.The nipple portion 124 has a first end 124 a coupled to ormonolithically formed into the second end 122 b of the elongated portion122 and a second free end 124 b. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS.3-5, the nipple portion 124 is a cylindrical length of pipe where thefirst end 124 a of the nipple portion 124 is coupled to the second end122 b of the elongated portion 122 of the first hub 120 so that a sealedconnection joint exists between the elongated portion 122 and the nippleportion 124 preventing gas from exiting the valve seat housing 110 viathe sealed connection joint. The second end 124 b of the nipple portion124 of the first hub 120 can be coupled to a gas pipe or a gas pipefitting, e.g., the service line gas pipe 16 or the tee connection 12extending from the gas main 10.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 3-5, the second hub 126 may besubstantially the same size and shape as the first hub 120 or the secondhub 126 may be different in shape and size from the first hub 120. Inthis exemplary embodiment, second hub 126 is substantially the same sizeand shape as the first hub 120. The second hub 126 is a hollow memberthat includes an elongated portion 128 having a hollow center and anipple portion 130 having a hollow center. The elongated portion 128 hasa first end 128 a that may be integrally or monolithically formed intothe wall 112 of the valve seat housing 110 so that a sealed connectionjoint exists between the second hub 126 and the valve seat housing 110preventing gas from exiting the valve seat housing via the sealedconnection joint. In another embodiment, the first end 128 a of theelongated portion 128 may be secured to the wall 112 of the valve seathousing 110 using adhesives, welds or other fasteners, so that a sealedconnection joint exists between the second hub 126 and the valve seathousing 110 preventing gas from exiting the valve seat housing via thesealed connection joint. The first end 128 a of the elongated portion128 is preferably shaped so that the hollow center portion of theelongated portion 128 is substantially the same shape and size as thesecond gas port 118. A second end 128 b of the elongated portion 128 isnarrower than the first end 128 a and is shaped so that the second end128 b can be coupled to the nipple portion 130. The nipple portion 130has a first end 130 a coupled to or monolithically formed into thesecond end 128 b of the elongated portion 128 and a second free end 130b. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3-5, the nipple portion 130 is acylindrical length of pipe where the first end 130 a of the nippleportion 130 is coupled to the second end 128 b of the elongated portion128 of the second hub 126 so that a sealed connection joint existsbetween the elongated portion 128 and the nipple portion 130 preventinggas from exiting the valve seat housing 110 via the sealed connectionjoint. The second end 130 b of the nipple portion 130 of the second hub126 can be coupled to a gas pipe or a gas pipe fitting, e.g., theservice line gas pipe 16 or the tee connection 12 extending from the gasmain 10.

Referring to FIGS. 4-7, the flow valve body 150 includes a substantiallysolid outer wall 152 that is configured and dimensioned to fit withinthe central opening 114 in the valve seat housing 110. In this exemplaryembodiment, the flow valve body 150 is a generally cylindrical member orstructure that is preferably made of a plastic material, such aspolyethylene. The flow valve body 150 is releasably secured within thecentral opening of the valve seat housing 110 using, for example, acover ring 151 having mounting holes 153 and mechanical fasteners 155,e.g., machine screws, that are secured to threaded apertures 113 inmounting blocks 115 of the valve seat housing 110.

In this exemplary embodiment, the wall 112 of the valve seat housing 110is a cylindrical wall and the outer wall 152 of the flow valve body 150is cylindrical in shape and dimensioned so that the diameter of theouter wall 152 is less than a diameter of the central opening 114 in thevalve seat housing 110. To ensure a gas tight seal between the outerwall 152 of the flow valve body 150 and an inner wall 112 a of the wall112 of the valve seat housing 110, one or more sealing members can besecured at least partially within the inner wall 112 a of the wall 112so that a portion of the one or more sealing members 156 and 158 canengage the outer wall 152 of the flow valve body 150 to seal gas withinthe valve seat housing 110. In another exemplary embodiment, the one ormore sealing members 156 and 158 can be secured at least partiallywithin the outer wall 152 of the flow valve body 150 so that a portionof the one or more sealing members 156 and 158 can engage the inner wall112 a of the wall 112 of the valve seat housing 110 to seal gas withinthe valve seat housing 110. Non-limiting examples of the sealing membersinclude O-rings and gaskets. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4-7,the one or more sealing members include sealing member 158 which issecured at least partially within the inner wall 112 a of the wall 112so that a portion of the sealing members 156 and 158 can engage theouter wall 152 of the flow valve body 150, as seen in FIG. 7.

As noted above, the gas valve assemblies 100 according to the presentdisclosure also include multiple gas flow bores that are isolated fromeach other by internal seals and by having longitudinal axes that areorientated with an angular displacement so that only one gas flow boreis operatively aligned with first and second gas flow ports 116 and 118of the valve seat housing 110. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4-9,the flow valve body 150 includes a main flow bore 160 and a bypass flowbore 162. The main flow bore 160 extends along a longitudinal axis “L1”,seen in FIG. 9, from one side of the wall 152 of the flow valve body 150through the flow valve body to an opposite side of the wall 152. In thisexemplary embodiment, the flow valve body 150 includes a valvereceptacle 164 that extends into the flow valve body 150 and intersectsthe main flow bore 160, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The valve receptacle164 is configured and dimensioned to receive a valve holding body 184 ofthe valve holding assembly 180 described in more detail below.

The bypass flow bore 162 extends along a longitudinal axis “L2”, seen inFIG. 9, from one side of the wall 152 of the flow valve body 150 throughthe flow valve body to an opposite side of the wall 152. As seen in FIG.9, the bypass flow bore 162 is oriented relative to the main flow bore160 so that the longitudinal axes L1 and L2 are orientated with anangular displacement “α.” The angular displacement should be sufficientso flow bore 160 and 162 can be operatively engaged with first andsecond gas flow ports 120 and 126 of the valve seat housing 110 whiletransitioning from one position to another and sufficient so only oneflow bore 160 or 162 is operatively aligned with first and second gasflow ports 120 and 126 of the valve seat housing 110 when in EFV flowbore position or bypass flow bore position. As a non-limiting example,the angular displacement “α” may be in the range of about 50 degrees andabout 70 degrees.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, to ensure a gas tight seal between the mainflow bore 160 or the bypass flow bore 162, and the first hub 120, one ormore sealing members 166 can be used. The one or more sealing members166 may be secured to the inner wall 112 a of the wall 112 of the valveseat housing 110 or they may be secured to the outer wall 152 of theflow valve body 150 around the main flow bore 160 and the bypass flowbore 162. Non-limiting examples of the sealing members 166 includeO-rings and gaskets. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 7,one sealing member 166 is secured at least partially to or within theinner wall 112 a around the first gas port 116 so that a portion of theone or more sealing members 166 can engage the outer wall 152 of theflow valve body 150 in the proximity of the main flow bore 160 or thebypass flow bore 162 to seal gas within the respective bore and/orwithin the first hub 120. More specifically, when the flow valve body150 is aligned for operation in the flow control mode, the main flowbore 160 is aligned with the first gas port 116 so that the sealingmember 166 prevents gas flowing between the first hub 120, the first gasport 116 and the main flow bore 160 from leaking into the valve seathousing 110. When the flow valve body 150 is aligned for operation inthe bypass mode, the bypass flow bore 162 is aligned with the first gasport 116 so that the sealing member 166 prevents gas flowing between thefirst hub 120, the first gas port 116 and the bypass flow bore 160 fromleaking into the valve seat housing 110. When the flow valve body 150 isaligned for operation in the off mode, neither the main flow bore 160nor the bypass flow bore 162 are aligned with the first gas port 116 sothat the sealing member 166 prevents gas from flowing out of or into thefirst hub 120 and the first gas port 116.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, to ensure a gas tight seal between themain flow bore 160 or the bypass flow bore 162, and the second hub 126,one or more sealing members 168 can be used. The one or more sealingmembers 168 may be secured to the inner wall 112 a of the wall 112 ofthe valve seat housing 110 or they may be secured to the outer wall 152of the flow valve body 150 around the main flow bore 160 and the bypassflow bore 162. Non-limiting examples of the sealing members includeO-rings and gaskets. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and8, one sealing member 168 is secured at least partially to or within theinner wall 112 a around the second gas port 118 so that a portion of thesealing member 168 can engage the outer wall 152 of the flow valve body150 in the proximity of the main flow bore 160 or the bypass flow bore162 to seal gas within the respective bore 160 and/or 162 and/or withinthe second hub 126. More specifically, when the flow valve body 150 isaligned for operation in the flow control mode, the main flow bore 160is aligned the second gas port 118 so that the sealing member 168prevents gas flowing between the second hub 126, the second gas port 118and the main flow bore 160 from leaking into the valve seat housing 110.When the flow valve body 150 is aligned for operation in the bypassmode, the bypass flow bore 162 is aligned the second gas port 118 sothat the sealing member 168 prevents gas flowing between the second hub126, the second gas port 118 and the bypass flow bore 160 from leakinginto the valve seat housing 110. When the flow valve body 150 is alignedfor operation in the off mode, neither the main flow bore 160 nor thebypass flow bore 162 are aligned with the second gas port 118 so thatthe sealing member 168 prevents gas from flowing out of or into thesecond hub 126 and the second gas port 118.

Referring now to 5 and 6, the valve holding assembly 180 includes a lid182 and a valve holding body 184 extending from the lid 182. In thisexemplary embodiment, the valve holding assembly 180 is preferably madeof a plastic material, such as polyethylene. The lid 182 is configuredand dimensioned to fit within a recess 170 in the flow valve body 150and to be releasably secured to the flow valve body 150. The lid 182 maybe releasably secured to the flow valve body 150 using one or moremechanical fasteners 186. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the one ormore mechanical fasteners 186 are machine screws that pass throughmounting holes 172 in the lid 182 and are secured to threaded holes 174in the recess 170 of the flow valve body 150. However, the presentdisclosure contemplates that the one or more mechanical fasteners 186may be one or more clips or one or more cam lock mechanisms that aremanipulated from the top of the lid 182. The lid 182 may include ahandle 204 used to facilitate the installation of the flow valve body150 into the valve seat housing 110, or to facilitate the removal of theflow valve body 150 from the valve seat housing 110.

Referring to FIGS. 3-7, the lid 182 includes a valve actuation member196, such as a nut-like structure, that can be grasped with a tool androtated to move the flow valve body 150 between the flow control mode,the bypass mode and the off mode. To determine which mode the flow valvebody 150 is in, alignment indicia may be provided. For example, in theexemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a top surface of the flowvalve body 150 can be provided with one or more main mode markers 198,one or more bypass mode markers 200 and one or more off mode markers202. The one or more off mode markers 202 may be, for example, lineswith a wide thickness, the one or more main mode markers 198 may be, forexample, lines with an intermediate thickness, and the one or morebypass mode markers 200 may be, for example, lines with a narrowthickness, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In addition, the cover ring 151may include one or more alignment markers 157 positioned on the coverring so that the alignment markers are in-line with a central axis ofthe first gas port 116 and/or the second gas port 118. In thisconfiguration, when the flow valve body 150 is rotated within the valveseat housing 110 so that the main mode markers 198 are aligned with thealignment markers 157, the gas valve assembly 100 is aligned foroperation in the flow control mode. Referring to FIGS. 10-13, when theflow valve body 150 is rotated within the valve seat housing 110 so thatthe bypass mode markers 200 are aligned with the alignment markers 157,the gas valve assembly 100 is aligned for operation in the bypass mode.Referring to FIGS. 14-16, when the flow valve body 150 is rotated withinthe valve seat housing 110 so that the off mode markers 202 are alignedwith the alignment markers 157, the gas valve assembly 100 is alignedfor operation in the off mode.

Referring again to FIGS. 5-7, the valve holding body 184 is configuredand dimensioned to fit within the valve receptacle 164 in the flow valvebody 150. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the valveholding body 184 is a square shaped member and the valve receptacle 164is a square shaped receptacle. The valve holding body 184 includes anEFV bore 188 extending therethrough. The EFV bore 188 preferably has adiameter that is substantially the same as the diameter of the main flowbore 160. An excess flow valve 190 is positioned within the EFV bore 188and is held in position within the EFV bore 188 by a friction force orby a gasket, O-ring or other stop member. To hold the excess flow valve190 within the EFV bore 188 by a friction force, the diameter of theexcess flow valve 190 is slightly larger than the diameter of the EFVbore 188. To ensure a gas tight seal between the valve holding body 184and the valve receptacle 164 each side of the valve holding body 184with the EFV bore 188 includes a sealing member 192 that prevents gaswithin the main flow bore 160 and the EFV bore 188 from leaking out ofthe junction between the lid 182 and the recess 170 of the flow valvebody 150. To further ensure a gas tight seal between the valve holdingbody 184 and the valve receptacle 164, a sealing member 194 may bepositioned between the valve receptacle 164 and the lid 182 thatprevents any gas that may leak from the main flow bore 160 and the EFVbore 188 into the valve receptacle 164 from leaking out of the junctionbetween the lid 182 and the recess 170 of the flow valve body 150.Non-limiting examples of the sealing members 192 and 194 include O-ringsand gaskets.

Referring now to FIG. 17, another exemplary embodiment of a valveassembly 250 according to the present disclosure is shown. The valveassembly 250 includes the valve seat housing 110 and the flow valve body150 described above and for ease of description will not be repeated.However, it is noted that the valve receptacle 164 of the flow valvebody 150 is shaped with a rounded bottom wall instead of a flat bottomwall, as shown. The valve assembly 250 also includes a valve holdingassembly 260. In this exemplary embodiment, the valve holding assembly260 includes a lid 262 and a valve holding body 264. The valve holdingassembly 260 is preferably made of a plastic material, such aspolyethylene.

The lid 262 is configured and dimensioned to fit within the recess 170in the flow valve body 150 and to be releasably secured to the flowvalve body. The lid 262 may be releasably secured to the flow valve body150 using one or more mechanical fasteners 266. In the exemplaryembodiment shown, the one or more mechanical fasteners 266 are machinescrews that pass through mounting holes 268 in the lid 262 and aresecured to threaded holes 174 in the recess 170 of the flow valve body150. However, the present disclosure contemplates that the one or moremechanical fasteners 266 may be one or more clips or one or more camlock mechanisms that are manipulated from the top of the lid 262. Thelid 262 may include a handle 270 used to facilitate the installation ofthe flow valve body 150 into the valve seat housing 110, or tofacilitate the removal of the flow valve body 150 from the valve seathousing 110. The lid 262 includes a valve actuation member 272, such asa nut-like structure, that can be grasped with a tool and rotated tomove the flow valve body 150 between the flow control mode, the bypassmode and the off mode.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 17, the valve holding body 264 is configuredand dimensioned to fit within the valve receptacle 164 in the flow valvebody 150. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the valve holding body 264is a square shaped member with a rounded bottom wall and the valvereceptacle 164 has a rounded bottom wall as noted above. The valveholding body 264 includes an EFV bore 274 extending therethrough. TheEFV bore 274 preferably has a diameter that is substantially the same asthe diameter of the main flow bore 160. An excess flow valve 276 ispositioned within or built directly into the EFV bore 274. If positionedwithin the EFV bore 274, the excess flow valve 276 can be held inposition within the EFV bore by a friction force or by a gasket, O-ringor other stop member. With the excess flow valve 276 built directly intothe valve holding body 264 replacement of the excess flow valve 276 isachieved by replacing the valve holding body 264.

To ensure a gas tight seal between the valve holding body 264 and thevalve receptacle 164 each side of the valve holding body 264 with theEFV bore 274 includes a sealing member 278 that prevents gas within themain flow bore 160 and the EFV bore 274 from leaking out of the junctionbetween the lid 262 and the recess 170 of the flow valve body 150. Tofurther ensure a gas tight seal between the valve holding body 264 andthe valve receptacle 164, a sealing member 280 may be positioned betweenthe valve receptacle 164 and the lid 262 that prevents any gas that mayleak from the main flow bore 160 and the EFV bore 274 into the valvereceptacle 164 from leaking out of the junction between the lid 262 andthe recess 170 of the flow valve body 150. Non-limiting examples of thesealing members 278 and 280 include O-rings and gaskets.

To facilitate the insertion and the removal of the valve holding body264 from the valve receptacle 164, the valve holding body 264 mayinclude an arm 282 extending from a top wall of the valve holding body264. The arm 282 may also serve as a stop that is engaged by a bottomsurface of the lid 262 when the lid is secured to the flow valve body150 as described above. When the arm 282 is serving as a stop engagingthe bottom surface of the lid 262 when the lid is secured to the flowvalve body 150, the arm 282 helps to hold the valve holding body 264within the valve receptacle 164.

Referring now to FIG. 18, another exemplary embodiment of a valveassembly 300 according to the present disclosure is shown. The valveassembly 300 includes the valve seat housing 110 described above and forease of description is not repeated. The valve assembly 300 alsoincludes a flow valve body that is substantially similar to the flowvalve body 150 described, except that the valve receptacle differs fromthe valve receptacle 164 described above. This difference will bedescribed below in more detail. The valve assembly 300 also includes avalve holding assembly 310 that is preferably made of a plasticmaterial, such as polyethylene.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 18, the valve receptacle 164 of theflow valve body 150 is a channel, e.g., a rectangular channel, borderedby a pair of short walls 164 a and a pair of long walls 164 b that endat the main flow bore 160 and conform to the shape of the main flow bore160 so that an excess flow valve 340 may be positioned within the mainflow bore 160.

The valve holding assembly 310 includes a lid 320 and a valve holdingbody 330. The lid 320 is configured and dimensioned to fit within therecess 170 in the flow valve body 150 and to be releasably secured tothe flow valve body. The lid 320 may be releasably secured to the flowvalve body 150 using one or more mechanical fasteners 322. In theexemplary embodiment shown, the one or more mechanical fasteners 322 aremachine screws that pass through mounting holes 324 in the lid 320 andare secured to threaded holes 174 in the recess 170 of the flow valvebody 150. However, the present disclosure contemplates that the one ormore mechanical fasteners 322 may be one or more clips or one or morecam lock mechanisms that are manipulated from the top of the lid 320.The lid 320 may include a handle 326 used to facilitate the installationof the flow valve body 150 into the valve seat housing 110, or tofacilitate the removal of the flow valve body 150 from the valve seathousing 110. The lid 320 includes a valve actuation member 328, such asa nut-like structure, that can be grasped with a tool and rotated tomove the flow valve body 150 between the flow control mode, the bypassmode and the off mode.

The valve holding body 330 is configured and dimensioned to fit withinthe valve receptacle 164 in the flow valve body 150, and to conform tothe shape of the valve receptacle 164 to help facilitate a gas tightseal between an excess flow valve 340 positioned within the main flowbore 160 and the junction between the lid 320 and the flow valve body150. The valve holding body 330 includes a base 332 and an arm 334extending from a top side of the base as shown. A bottom side of thebase 332, which is opposite the side having the arm 334, has an arcuatesurface 336 configured to form the shape of the outer periphery of theexcess flow valve 340. To ensure a gas tight seal between the excessflow valve 340, the valve holding body 330 and the valve receptacle 164,each end of the excess flow valve 340 includes a sealing member 342 thatprevents gas within the main flow bore 160 from leaking out of thejunction between the lid 320 and the recess 170 of the flow valve body150. To further ensure a gas tight seal between the valve holding body330 and the valve receptacle 164, a sealing member 344 may be positionedbetween the valve receptacle 164 and the lid 320 that prevents any gasthat may leak from the main flow bore 160 into the valve receptacle 164from leaking out of the junction between the lid 320 and the recess 170of the flow valve body 150. Non-limiting examples of the sealing members342 and 344 include O-rings and gaskets.

The arm 334 facilitates the insertion and the removal of the valveholding body 330 from the valve receptacle 164. The arm 334 may alsoserve as a stop that is engaged by a bottom surface of the lid 320 whenthe lid is secured to the flow valve body 150 as described above. Whenthe arm 334 is serving as a stop engaging the bottom surface of the lid320 when the lid is secured to the flow valve body 150, the arm 334helps to hold the valve holding body 330 within the valve receptacle164.

As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate likeor corresponding parts. While illustrative embodiments of the presentdisclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should beunderstood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to beconsidered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and othermodifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to beconsidered as limited by the foregoing description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gas valve assembly comprising: a valve seathousing having a wall and a central opening, and including: a first hubextending from the wall of the valve seat housing and having an openingextending therethrough; a first gas port extending through the wall ofthe valve seat housing aligned with the first hub opening so that thecentral opening is in communication with the first hub opening; a secondhub extending from the wall of the valve seat housing and having anopening extending therethrough; a second gas port extending through thewall of the valve seat housing aligned with the second hub opening sothat the central opening is in communication with the second hubopening; a flow valve body within the central opening of the valve seathousing, the flow valve body having a main flow bore extendingtherethrough and a bypass bore extending therethrough, wherein the mainflow bore is angularly displaced from the bypass flow bore; and valveholding assembly having a lid releasably secured to the flow valve bodyand a valve holding body extending from the lid into a valve receptaclewithin the flow valve body, the valve holding body having an excess flowvalve removably positioned within an EFV bore within the valve holdingbody.
 2. The gas valve assembly according to claim 1, further comprisinga cover ring releasably securing the flow valve body within the centralopening of the valve seat housing.
 3. The gas valve assembly accordingto claim 2, wherein the cover ring includes at least one alignmentmarker, and wherein the flow valve body includes at least one main modemarker and at least one bypass mode marker, such that when the at leastone main mode marker is aligned with the at least one alignment markerthe gas valve assembly is aligned for operation in a flow control modeand when the at least one bypass mode marker is aligned with the atleast one alignment marker the gas valve assembly is aligned foroperation in a bypass mode.
 4. The gas valve assembly according to claim3, wherein when the at least one main mode marker and the at least onebypass mode marker are not aligned with the at least one alignmentmarker the gas valve assembly is aligned for operation in an off mode.5. The gas valve assembly according to claim 3, wherein the flow valvebody includes at least one off mode marker such that when the at leastone off mode marker is aligned with the at least one alignment markerthe gas valve assembly is aligned for operation in an off mode.
 6. Thegas valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first hub andsecond hub are integrally or monolithically formed into the valve seathousing.
 7. The gas valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the EFVbore is aligned with the main flow bore.
 8. The gas valve assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the main flow bore is angularly displacedfrom the bypass flow bore within the range of about 50 degrees and about70 degrees.
 9. A gas valve assembly comprising: a valve seat housinghaving a wall and a central opening, and including: a first hubintegrally or monolithically formed into the wall of the valve seathousing and having an opening extending therethrough; a first gas portextending through the wall of the valve seat housing aligned with thefirst hub opening so that the central opening is in communication withthe first hub opening; a second hub integrally or monolithically formedinto the wall of the valve seat housing and having an opening extendingtherethrough; a second gas port extending through the wall of the valveseat housing aligned with the second hub opening so that the centralopening is in communication with the second hub opening; and a flowvalve body within the central opening of the valve seat housing, theflow valve body having a main flow bore extending therethrough and abypass bore extending therethrough, wherein the main flow bore isangularly displaced from the bypass flow bore, the flow valve bodyhaving a removable excess flow valve positioned within main flow bore.10. The gas valve assembly according to claim 9, further comprising acover ring releasably securing the flow valve body within the centralopening of the valve seat housing.
 11. The gas valve assembly accordingto claim 10, wherein the cover ring includes at least one alignmentmarker, and wherein the flow valve body includes at least one main modemarker and at least one bypass mode marker, such that when the at leastone main mode marker is aligned with the at least one alignment markerthe gas valve assembly is aligned for operation in a flow control modeand when the at least one bypass mode marker is aligned with the atleast one alignment marker the gas valve assembly is aligned foroperation in a bypass mode.
 12. The gas valve assembly according toclaim 11, wherein when the at least one main mode marker and the atleast one bypass mode marker are not aligned with the at least onealignment marker the gas valve assembly is aligned for operation in anoff mode.
 13. The gas valve assembly according to claim 11, wherein theflow valve body includes at least one off mode marker such that when theat least one off mode marker is aligned with the at least one alignmentmarker the gas valve assembly is aligned for operation in an off mode.14. The gas valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein the main flowbore is angularly displaced from the bypass flow bore within the rangeof about 50 degrees and about 70 degrees.
 15. A gas valve assemblycomprising: a valve seat housing having a wall and a central opening,and including: a first gas port extending through the wall of the valveseat housing; a second gas port extending through the wall of the valveseat housing; and a flow valve body within the central opening of thevalve seat housing, the flow valve body having a main flow boreextending therethrough and a bypass bore extending therethrough, whereinthe main flow bore is angularly displaced from the bypass flow bore, theflow valve body having a removable excess flow valve positioned withinmain flow bore.
 16. The gas valve assembly according to claim 15,further comprising a valve holding assembly having a lid releasablysecured to the flow valve body and a valve holding body extending fromthe lid into a valve receptacle within the flow valve body, the valveholding body having the excess flow valve removably positioned within anEFV bore within the valve holding body.
 17. The gas valve assemblyaccording to claim 15, further comprising a cover ring releasablysecuring the flow valve body within the central opening of the valveseat housing.
 18. The gas valve assembly according to claim 17, whereinthe cover ring includes at least one alignment marker, and wherein theflow valve body includes at least one main mode marker and at least onebypass mode marker, such that when the at least one main mode marker isaligned with the at least one alignment marker the gas valve assembly isaligned for operation in a flow control mode and when the at least onebypass mode marker is aligned with the at least one alignment marker thegas valve assembly is aligned for operation in a bypass mode.
 19. Thegas valve assembly according to claim 18, wherein when the at least onemain mode marker and the at least one bypass mode marker are not alignedwith the at least one alignment marker the gas valve assembly is alignedfor operation in an off mode.
 20. The gas valve assembly according toclaim 18, wherein the flow valve body includes at least one off modemarker such that when the at least one off mode marker is aligned withthe at least one alignment marker the gas valve assembly is aligned foroperation in an off mode.